Agree on the music in the first half, found that quite annoying. Thought the quiet drumbeat in the second half was very effective though...almost subliminal, but the changing speed and rhythm was very directly matched by the crowd. Well worth experimenting with further.

One thing they could (maybe?) do is make sports ears available to everyone. Play the commentary and refs mike on a couple of short range AM signals and let anyone with a radio tune in. There is probably nothing they could do that would better teach new fans about the game, or connect the crowd to the match.

Agree the music was distracting. The drumbeat in the back ground was good in my opinion built excitement and intensity without distractions.

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Generally speaking you arenít learning much if your lips are moving!!!

Another thing I forgot to add. I think we need the Ref and players to buy into the game as well.

Maybe, just maybe a forward pass a millimetre forward could be allowed to let play go on.. Offside 40mteres from the ruck...hmm let it go.

A couple of times when Power Play was on... Ref blew a penalty to the attacking team... I think Power Play should continue under such a circumstance, otherwise defending teams will realise a penalty 40metres out maybe better than a 9 point try...

A couple of times when Power Play was on... Ref blew a penalty to the attacking team... I think Power Play should continue under such a circumstance, otherwise defending teams will realise a penalty 40metres out maybe better than a 9 point try...

The obvious solution is such a penalty doesn't break the "continuous possession" if the attacking team chooses to tap and run.

Another thing I forgot to add. I think we need the Ref and players to buy into the game as well.

Maybe, just maybe a forward pass a millimetre forward could be allowed to let play go on.. Offside 40mteres from the ruck...hmm let it go.

A couple of times when Power Play was on... Ref blew a penalty to the attacking team... I think Power Play should continue under such a circumstance, otherwise defending teams will realise a penalty 40metres out maybe better than a 9 point try...

Yep couldn't agree more.

If you are the attacking team then maybe if you are going for a powerplay try and a penalty offence occurs against you then maybe there could be an option to either 'tap' the ball and resume the powerplay, or kick for touch and maybe lose the powerplay but gain possession and territory from the lineout instead. So it gives an option and if offenses do occur to shut down a potential powerplay opportunity you dont lose it.

I noticed the fijians tried to hang/hold players off forming the lineout instead of joining them at speed. Maybe if the defensive team doesnt form a lineout quick enough and the defending team is ready and throws in quickly then the players who never made it into the line for the defending team are out of play untill the first ruck? Maybe the closest players to the lineout are determined to be out of play.

Didnt notice any real speed up for the scrums but this could have been more to do with the ref not enforcing the new law very well?

How about if the opposition commit a penalty offence during a power play then a choice of 10 metres with a tap and continuation or the the standard kick losing the power play . I noticed very few scrum resets . Maybe due to the 1 min rule .

Another thing I forgot to add. I think we need the Ref and players to buy into the game as well. Maybe, just maybe a forward pass a millimetre forward could be allowed to let play go on.. Offside 40mteres from the ruck...hmm let it go. A couple of times when Power Play was on... Ref blew a penalty to the attacking team... I think Power Play should continue under such a circumstance, otherwise defending teams will realise a penalty 40metres out maybe better than a 9 point try...

I reckon the easiest tweak to power try is to allow the attacking team to tap and continue the power try attempt, would certainly limit the effectiveness of the cynical penalty.

Yep couldn't agree more. If you are the attacking team then maybe if you are going for a powerplay try and a penalty offence occurs against you then maybe there could be an option to either 'tap' the ball and resume the powerplay, or kick for touch and maybe lose the powerplay but gain possession and territory from the lineout instead. So it gives an option and if offenses do occur to shut down a potential powerplay opportunity you dont lose it. I noticed the fijians tried to hang/hold players off forming the lineout instead of joining them at speed. Maybe if the defensive team doesnt form a lineout quick enough and the defending team is ready and throws in quickly then the players who never made it into the line for the defending team are out of play untill the first ruck? Maybe the closest players to the lineout are determined to be out of play. Didnt notice any real speed up for the scrums but this could have been more to do with the ref not enforcing the new law very well?

I watched the rebels game (well most of the first half) mainly because I enjoy watching them lose and realised that, although you didn't notice it during the game, wsr scrums were actually significantly faster

I watched the rebels game (well most of the first half) mainly because I enjoy watching them lose and realised that, although you didn't notice it during the game, wsr scrums were actually significantly faster

I noticed the same thing. Perhaps the players, knowing they had a minute, just got on with it ?

I watched the rebels game (well most of the first half) mainly because I enjoy watching them lose and realised that, although you didn't notice it during the game, wsr scrums were actually significantly faster

Well after watching the pathetic disgraceful ref performance from the republic on the weekend (i think it was the Sharks vs Highlanders game) and watching how the scrums were managed I can agree the WSR scrums were quicker but the reffing in super rugby in regards to scrummaging has become so bad these days I wasnt sure if it was an anomaly. The sharks highlanders game had some of the slowest most tedious resets I can remember, the crowd just gave up cheering and the game was an embarassment. Comparing that game to the Force game was light years between them in terms of scrum speeds but I still think there is alot more room for improvement. Maybe also including a scrum clock on the TV broadcast for the fans so they can see when its due to expire would help them engage more.

I quite liked the countdown appearing on-screen for the kicks; a similar countdown for the scrums would also help. Maybe they can play the countdown music from Letters and Numbers as the clock reaches 15 seconds left!

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Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

I reckon the easiest tweak to power try is to allow the attacking team to tap and continue the power try attempt, would certainly limit the effectiveness of the cynical penalty.

I reckon the easiest tweak to power try is to award a Penalty Power Try (= 9 points) for a cynical penalty from the opposition, simply trying to prevent the "continuous movement". That'll happen just the once before it stops, I reckon.

I prefer to reduce the number of arbitrary judgement calls the officials have to make (their job is hard enough as it is). When is it cynical, when is it clumsy, when is it just bad luck? Sure, yellow for foul play but so many times we see a winger try for an intercept and cop a yellow.